Water pony



April 30, 1940- N. l. cHls-rlANsN 2,198,904

WATER PONY Filed Feb. `25, 1939 UNITED STATES nasi PATENT OFFICE I WATER PONY Nils Ingvald Christiansen, New York, N. Y.

Application February 25, 1939, Serial No. 258,420

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a play boat for use by bathers of the type where a person sits astride the device and propels vthe same by pedaling a mechanism submerged in the water.

An important object of my invention is to provide a device of light and simple construction which may be easily propelled through the water at a considerable speed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a play boat of such low cost construction that it may be rented to bathers at a very reasonable price.

Other objects and-advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the n same,

Figure 1 is a plan View of a device embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a section along line 3--3 in Figure 2, and,

Figure 4 is an enlarged elevation of the propeller along line 4,-4 in Fig. 2. v In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, ythe numeral Il! designates the saddle plank which is rigidly fastened to the main float or pontoon II. Two smaller, similar pontoons I2 and I3 are fastened by flanges I4 to pipe I5 which forms the handle bar and stearing means. The pipe I5 is rotatably fastened through clamp I6 to bracket I'I the two ends o-f which are fastened rigidly to the saddle plank I0 at I8 and I9. n The propelling mechanism consists of two stirrups 20 fastened one at each end of belt 2| which runs over pulley`22. The pulley 22is supported on bracket 23 which also carries a small Wheel 24, rotatably mounted on 23, serving the purpose of keeping belt 2I from slipping oi the pulley 22. 'I'he Shaft 25 on which pulley 22 is mounted is journalled in the bracket 23 and extends through a pipe 26 which extends through pontoon II and forms a bearing for shaft 25. The rear end of shaft carries a pulley 2l with belt 28 which runs over pulley 29 upon which is mounted the propeller.- The pulley 29 is rotatable upon a pinion 30 which is mounted on bracket 3 I. The bracket 3I is fastened to pontoon II at 32 and 33. v

An enlarged view of the propeller is shown in Fig. 4 where 34 are the identical `propeller blades.

These are mounted upon rods which extend into tubular sockets 36. A pin 3l which is rigidly fastened in rods 35 extend through slots 33 and permit the rods 35 and the blades 3Q to turn in a certain angle determined by the length of said slots 38. The entire propeller assembly is mounted on pulley 29.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The operator sits astride the saddle plank I5 with his feet in the stirrups 2l). Pushing down with one foot at a vtime shaft 25 and pulleys 21 and 29 will rotate the propeller first in one direction and then in the opposite direction. Due to the fact that the blades 35 are rotatable in a certain angle the rotation of the propeller will result in a forward pullof the same regardless of the direction of rotation. In changing 4direction of rotation the force of the water will rotate the blades 34 until pin 31 hits the other end of slot 38. Steering is accomplished by turning the handle bar I5.

It is to be understoodthat the form of my invention, herewith Shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claim.

f Having thus described my invention I claim:

In an aquaticamusement device of the character described the combination of a central pontoon; a saddle plank rigidly fastened on top and longitudinally on said pontoon, the plank extendingy forward of the'pontoon; two smaller pontoons located forward and on either side of the central pontoon; a tubular member bent into the shape of a handle bar, the ends of l which are rigidly fastened one to each of the smaller pontoons; a mounting bracket the two legs of which are bolted down to the forward end on the top side of the plank; a swivel fitting fastening the handle bar to the mounting bracket in a transverse and horizontally rotatable posi- 

